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Having the right tool for the job has long been the mantra for professional photographers and hobbyists alike. Canon’s wide array of lenses provide users with a variety of creative options to help capture dynamic photos and videos with their DSLR cameras. Canon U.S.A., Inc., a leader in digital imaging solutions, announced today the new Canon EF 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6 IS II USM lens featuring NANO USM technology for high-speed and near-silent focusing in both still and video modes. The lens also features a new LCD information display and four-stop image stabilization.

“To help photographers that are striving to create the most amazing pictures and videos possible, Canon is dedicated to developing the best tools to help them with their goal,” said Yuichi Ishizuka, president and COO, Canon U.S.A., Inc. “Having this new EF 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6 IS II USM lens in a photographer’s camera bag will surely help them achieve their creative vision.”

Designed with the user in mind, this affordable new lens includes technology to spark creativity and deliver excellent image and video quality from afar. This is the second Canon lens equipped with NANO USM technology, a focusing motor that combines the benefits of a ring USM (ultrasonic motor) for high-speed AF during still photo shooting and lead-screw type STM (stepping motor) for smooth and quiet video autofocusing (AF)

Full frame corner sharpness performance is quite good at the wide end, with good sharpness showing even at f/4 and some improvement realized at f/5.6. Corner performance is reduced to mediocre over the mid and long focal length ranges. Subjects in the plane of sharp focus running through the corners are not turned into mush at wide open apertures, but they are not totally stellar either – and show very little improvement at narrower apertures.

Center sharpness is good wide open (f/4), but is sharpest between f/5.6 and f/11. At f/16 sharpness is a little worse. At f/22 it's softer again, and very soft at the narrowest aperture for this focal length (f/32). If you’re viewing the image at normal printing sizes, it's not quite so obvious though. At the edge of the image, sharpness is best between f/8 and f/22, before dropping off again at f/32.

300mm

Center sharpness at long end is very good at f/5.6 (the widest aperture), but is a little sharper at f/8. It’s excellent at f/11 and f/16, dropping a little again at f/22. At f/32 it’s noticeably soft, while at f/45 (the narrowest aperture), it’s even softer and is best avoided if possible. At the edge, it is sharpest at f/16 and f/22.